Destruction of trichloroethylene (TCE) and trichloromethane (TCM) in the presence of selected VOCs over Pt-Pd-based catalyst

Catalytic oxidation of trichloroethylene (TCE) and trichloromethane (TCM) oxidized alone and in two-component mixtures with selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as toluene, n-hexane, ethanol or acetone was investigated over a Pt-Pd-based catalyst on a monolithic, metallic, γ-Al2O3-washcoated support. TCE and TCM were more difficult to oxidize than VOCs and temperatures of their 50% conversion (T50%) amouted to 420 and 330 °C, respectively. All the VOCs added were found to enhance the conversion of the two chlorinated compounds, drecreasing T50% by 20 °C, at the most, for TCM in the presence of toluene and by 50 °C for TCE in the presence of acetone. Both the chlorinated compounds lowered the conversion of the VOCs added (except that of toluene), and this lowering was particularly distinct with n-heptane; they also raised the concentration of acetaldehyde formed during the oxidation of oxyderivative compounds.